Rutgers University Art Gallery and the Fine Arts Collection

The Rutgers University Art Gallery began operation in 1966, at which time Voorhees Hall on the New Brunswick campus was redesigned to house the Gallery. Voorhees Hall was the home of the University Library from 1905 to 1956, later serving as University offices. In 1966, Voorhees Hall was redesigned as an art building containing offices, lecture halls, and the University Art Gallery.

The purpose of the University Art Gallery was to present a wide variety of exhibits to the public. Its mission was to serve not only the needs of the student population in this respect, but the community as well; as part of Rutgers' responsibility in its function as a State institution. In keeping with this mission exhibitions which related specifically to New Jersey were a prime concern of the Gallery. Along these same lines, the Gallery offered services to the community such as poetry readings, and concert series, and lectures. The University Art Gallery was a part of the Department of the Fine Arts Collection. The Fine Arts Collection was made up of over 3500 paintings, prints and sculptures which were either on display on the New Brunswick, Newark and Camden campuses, stored in the Galley's basement or on loan to other institutions.

The current collection is comprised of a general survey of the history of the art of the Western world including the United States [18th Century] from the 15th Century through the late 20th. The strongest areas of the collection are those of the 19th and early 20th century French, English and American paintings and graphics. Works, by Constable, Turner, Monet, Manet, Renoir, Whistler and Cassatt are included in the collection. One of the goals of the Fine Arts Collection was to develop an area of strength in 19th century graphics. To this end, several classes of the University donated funds. While under the leadership of Phillip Dennis Cate the Gallery mounted over seventy-five exhibitions.

The Gallery has a "Friends of the University Art Gallery" which is a membership organization comprised of all individuals interested in art and supporting the activities of the University Art Gallery and the Fine Arts Collection; as well as in taking advantage of the services rendered by the Gallery.

With the opening of the renamed Janet Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum in 1983 the exhibition space for the Rutgers collection was quadrupled. The new Museum carries on the mission of the Rutgers University Art Gallery to both serve the art world and the Rutgers' community. The Voorhees Family has long been a patron of Rutgers University and sponsored such campus fixtures as the Voorhees Library (the original Art Gallery home) and Voorhees Chapel. Jane Voorhees Zimmerli was actively involved in the life of the Rutgers community and her son Alan Voorhees and daughter-in-law Natalie Voorhees made financial contributions to the building of the Museum.